Embry-Riddle signs off on space degree

Tuesday

Mar 26, 2013 at 3:29 PMMar 26, 2013 at 7:45 PM

The university is moving forward with offering a bachelor's degree in commercial space operations this fall.

DEBORAH CIRCELLIEDUCATION WRITER

DAYTONA BEACH — Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is moving forward with offering a bachelor's degree in commercial space operations this fall. The university's board approved the new degree at its latest meeting. The university first announced plans for the program in February at the Federal Aviation Administration's 16th annual Commercial Space Transportation Conference. Embry-Riddle officials said the program is the first of its kind in the world. While a couple of other schools have master's degrees pertaining to space studies, Embry-Riddle leaders say those degrees don't cater to the emerging commercial space industry. "The commercial space operations degree is the culmination of a total effort by the College of Aviation's leadership, faculty, and students," Tim Brady, dean of the campus's College of Aviation, said in a statement. "It is also gratifying to have had tremendous help and support of the space industry." Graduates of the new degree program will have the qualifications needed to fill jobs in management, training and education, policy, safety, program and project planning, human factors, regulation, flight planning and operations. The program links Embry-Riddle's expertise in aerospace education with the needs of commercial space industries and regulatory agencies. "When we were planning this degree, our advisers from the commercial space industry, including SpaceX, said they couldn't wait to hire our graduates," program coordinator Lance Erickson said following Friday's actions by the board. "It is one of the most innovative non-engineering degrees in the aerospace industry."